Compression fixation system

A method for achieving compression fixation of a plurality of bone elements, comprising:

• inserting an elongate coupling component having distal and proximal ends into a through hole in each of the bone elements, the bone elements arranged for fixation along a generally linear path from a proximal position to a distal position,
• actuating an anchor at the distal end of the coupling component into engagement with a distal face of the most distally positioned bone element,
• sequentially engaging each of a locking assembly, and tensioning and insertion tools into engagement with the coupling component, the tensioning tool engaged fixedly with the proximal end of the coupling component and also engaged loosely with a more distal portion of the coupling component;
• each of the locking assembly and the insertion tool engaged along an axis that is shared with the coupling component, the insertion tool positioned between a more distal engagement position of the tensioning tool and the most proximally positioned fragment of the aligned bone fragments, and the locking assembly positioned between the insertion tool and the most proximally positioned fragment of the aligned bone fragments,
• actuating the tensioning tool to displace the coupling component in a proximal direction thereby exerting distally directed pressure on the insertion tool whereby distally directed pressure is also exerted on the locking assembly to direct the locking assembly into compressive contact with the most proximally positioned fragment, and
• actuating the insertion tool to engage the locking assembly into a locked configuration.